Appendix B - 319 Project Overview (PDF)

Fecal Load Reduction in the May River Watershed Project location: HUC 030601100301, May River Watershed Beaufort County affecting the Town of Bluffton and Beaufort County jurisdictions

MAY RIVER WATERSHED ACTION PLAN

APPENDIX B:

319 PROJECT OVERVIEW

Fecal Load Reduction in the May River Watershed

Project location: HUC 030601100301, May River Watershed Beaufort County affecting the Town of Bluffton and

Beaufort County jurisdictions and including SCDHEC shellfish monitoring stations of 19, 24 and

19-16 (Figure 1 Locator Map)

Funding:

Federal: $483,500.00

Non-Federal: $322,494.50

Total: $805,994.50

Lead organization and project manager:

The Town of Bluffton has extensive project management experience and will implement this initiative through a process of collaboration among partners, constituents, and town staff to attain the highest level of quality and effectiveness Key staff are highly qualified and include town employees from the Department of Engineering Other supplemental staff will advise on the project as needed including representatives from the Finance Department and the Department of Growth Management

Individuals in key positions are as follows:

• Project Manager: Kimberly W Jones, Natural Resources Manager

kjones@townofbluffton.com

• Supervisor: Ron Bullman, Director, Division of Stormwater Management

rbullman@townofbluffton.comContact Information:

Town of Bluffton P.O Box 386 Bluffton, SC 29910 Telephone: 843-706-4593 (Kim)

Agency/organization financial officer or grant administrator:

Shirley Freeman, Assistant Town Manager Administration/Finance

Cooperating organizations and partnerships:

Dr Geoff Scott Director NOAA - National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

Dr Alan Warren Program Director USCB - Environmental Health Science

Dr Dwayne Porter Director, Chair USC – Environmental Health Sciences

Dr Bill Leonard Project Manager Clemson Master Gardener’s Turf Love Program

Ms Rebekah Szivak Program Coordinator SC DNR – ACE Basin NERR Coastal Training

Ms April Turner Coastal Community Specialist SC Sea Grant Extension Program

The Town has obtained the commitment of support from a number of individuals/organizations Dr Geoff Scott, NOAA, has committed access to his Human Dimension Specialist to assist with the creation of a social marketing/outreach campaign, as well as his expertise in installing innovative Best Management Practices (BMPs)

to improve water quality Dr Alan Warren, USCB, has committed use of the water quality laboratory, its

equipment and the Water Quality Analyst’s time to assist the Town in locating areas of high fecal coliform levels that require BMPs to reduce the loading Dr Dwayne Porter, USC, has committed his expertise on how changing land use affects fecal loading Dr Bill Leonard and the Lowcountry Council of Master Gardeners have committed

to partner with the Town to install rain gardens Ms Rebekah Szivak, SC DNR – ACE Basin NERR Coastal Training Program, has committed to partner with the Town to hold two Low Impact Development (LID) outreach

workshops each year of the grant Ms April Turner, SC Sea Grant Extension, has committed to bring the Syst Program to the greater Bluffton community

Supporting organizations and partnerships:

Mr Craig Hesterlee Region 4 Coordinator EPA

Mr Russell Berry Regional Director DHEC - EQC Region 8 - Beaufort

Mr Mike Monday Regional Shellfish Program Manager DHEC - EQC Region 8 - Beaufort

Mr Curtis Joyner Coastal Projects Manager DHEC - OCRM

Ms Laura Lee Rose Extension Agent/Master Gardener Clemson University – Beaufort County Ext

Ms Nancy Schilling Founder/Director Friends of the Rivers

Mr Glenn Stanford Project Manager Trust for Public Land

Mr Bob Klink Beaufort County Engineer Beaufort County

Mr Dan Ahern Stormwater Manager Beaufort County

Ms Amanda Flake Natural Resources Planner Beaufort County

Mr Brian Herrmann Community Planner, LEED certified Beaufort County

The above individuals/organizations are an example of some of the organizations that have partnered with the Town of Bluffton in this project by serving on regular committees These committees support the project

with access to expert knowledge, advocacy for the project and outreach regarding the project

PROJECT ABSTRACT:

Background/Overview of Project:

The May River has been identified as a priority watershed by the EPA and SCDHEC It is a regionally significant waterbody for a number of reasons including its aesthetics and views which increase the popularity of the area for continued residential and commercial growth; its numerous natural resource populations that are directly harvested and utilized by local and regional residents; and the economic conditions, directly and

indirectly, generated to the community because of the river are substantial Finally, the water quality within the May River historically has been reported as very good, resulting in the Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) designation from the DHEC Environmental Quality Control’s (EQC) Bureau of Water All of these facets of the river help provide a sense of community character and pride that is locally and regionally recognized

The Town of Bluffton has grown rapidly in recent years and this trend is expected to continue into the future Changes in the intensity and types of land use associated with population growth and new development within the watershed during the past decade have resulted in changes in water quality There is evidence of this represented by the increasing fecal numbers reported by SCDHEC-EQC at shellfish stations 19-19, 19-24 and 19-

16 located from the headwaters to the middle stem of the river, respectively

Objectives/Goals of the Project:

The Town is committed to utilizing its resources and partnerships to protect the river in the face of changing land use patterns, which has brought the amount of fecal loading into the headwaters of the May River

to approximately 1,200,000 lbs/year By implementing structural and non-structural Best Management Practices

(BMPs), the Town is estimating fecal coliform loading will be reduced by 300,000 lbs/year (a 25% reduction)

by one year after the close of the project Thus, the goal of this project is to reduce fecal loading into the May River by 25%, with a focus on the headwaters area, thereby repairing a fecal impairment which resulted in the closure of the shellfish beds for harvesting

Methods Employed:

The measurable objectives and methods used to reach this goal are:

1 Create a social marketing campaign that targets specific audiences to adopt positive behavioral change to improve water quality in the May River This will be accomplished by examining the needs of the target audiences to tailor the message for each group, but will focus on septic tank maintenance and proper pet/domestic waste disposal

2 Establish smart growth regulations within the watershed via an overhaul of the existing Unified

Development Ordinance based in watershed principles including stormwater, land use and land

disturbance elements The Town of Bluffton, in collaboration with Beaufort County, will update their Stormwater Ordinances with more rigorous requirements for volume control based on current research, while also updating an Animal Ordinance for the Town of Bluffton

3 Install structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) Loading to the May River will be reduced by

installing BMPs in homeowners’ yards to reduce stormwater runoff into stormwater ponds thereby

reducing the transport of fecal coliforms from yards into the ponds while also reducing the volume of stormwater carrying fecal coliforms Installing BMPs at critical pond outfalls will reduce fecal coliform transportation via stormwater discharges into adjacent wetlands

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Significance of the May River

The May River is a regionally significant waterbody for a number of reasons:

1) The river contains numerous natural resource populations, including finfish, blue crabs, shrimp and oysters, which are directly harvested for consumption and/or for sports fishing and recreation by local and regional residents

2) The aesthetics and views of the May River waterbody increase the popularity of the area for continued residential, commercial and tourist visitation growth, thus tying the Town’s economic conditions directly and indirectly to the river

3) Commercial shellfish harvesting, particularly for oysters and hard

clams (Figure 2), remains a significant component of the

economy, tradition and community character of the Town of

Bluffton The Bluffton Oyster Company is the longest, continually

operational oyster harvesting/shucking facility in the state of

South Carolina According to DHEC, the May River supplies

nearly 20% of the State’s annual harvest of oysters and is well

known for the famous Bluffton oyster

4) The water quality within the May River has been historically

reported as very good, resulting in the Outstanding Resource

Waters (ORW) designation from the DHEC Environmental Quality

Control’s (EQC) Bureau of Water With this designation has

come a sense of security for area residents and visitors that

recreational contact with the water for swimming, water skiing and kayaking is safe

2003 2004 2005 2006 0

5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 50,000

Eastern Oyster (Bushels) Hard Clam (Each)

Figure 2 Shellfish Harvest 2003-2006

5) The River and its associated marshes provide high quality habitat for a number of federally protected species including Bottlenose Dolphins, Bald Eagles, Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles, Loggerhead Sea Turtles and Wood Storks

6) The River provides a sense of community character and pride that is locally and regionally recognized

A fecal coliform impairment has closed shellfish harvesting beds This closure has a direct detrimental impact on the community seen in reduced shellfish harvest income for the commercial operation With the loss of shellfish harvesting, there will be a public perception that the area is polluted, thus potentially lowering property values and affecting future economic growth in the area

May River is a Threatened Waterbody

Historically, few sources of impairments to

water quality existed within the May River

Watershed The Town of Bluffton has grown rapidly

in recent years and this trend is expected to

continue into the future Changes in the intensity

and types of land use associated with population

growth and new development within the watershed

during the past decade have resulted in changes in

water quality While the May River still retains its

ORW status, for the first time in recent history the

May River has experienced a shellfish harvesting

classification down-grade due to an increased level

of fecal coliform in its headwaters at DHEC shellfish

monitoring station 19-19

(Fig 1)

DHEC determines if shellfish impairments

exist (or are being approached) by compiling data

from three years of monthly stratified, random samples Figure 3 Fecal Numbers (’05-’08) at DHEC Station 19-19

at eachof its shellfish monitoring locations Fecal numbers are derived by the Most Probable Number (MPN) methodology The standards state the MPN geometric mean shall not exceed 14 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/100

ml, and the estimated 90th percentile shall not exceed an MPN of 43 CFU/100ml The geometric mean is the average of the log values of a data set converted back to a base10 number The estimated 90th percentile is a statistical technique that accounts for variability within a dataset (i.e random high bacteria counts)

Figure 4 Shellfish bed closure (red) if DHEC Station 19-19

exceeds fecal limits.

The evidence that the May River is a threatened waterbody for a shellfish fecal impairment is in the increasing fecal numbers reported by DHEC at shellfish station 19-19 (Fig 3) Figure 3 depicts the standard for a shellfish fecal impairment as a red threshold line

The trend line shows that the station approached

the exceedance level in 2007 and was expected to

exceed in 2008

The raw data provided by DHEC for each

of the three stations of concern (19-19 in the

headwaters and 19-24 and 19-16 in the middle

stem of the river) are in Appendix A, Tables 1-3

Of the 27 samples collected and reported for 2008

at the three stations, nearly 1/3 of the samples

either exceed or are approaching an exceedance

of the 90th percentile standard of 43 CFU/100 ml

as depicted by the red and orange highlighting

As these three stations are located within

the headwaters and middle stem of the May River,

they are affected by three sub-drainage basins,

Stoney Creek, Rose Dhu Creek and Guerrard Cove

(Fig 1) As the fecal levels entering the river from

these three sub-drainage basins have yet to be

reduced, there was a closure for shellfish

harvesting that encompasses all of the headwaters, approximately 1,200 acres2, of the May River in September

2009

This large area is mandated by DHEC protocol which requires the shellfish beds be closed for harvesting from the station where an exceedance occurs to the next station where there is no exceedance, thus the area from 19-19 to 19-24 (Fig 4) is closed Fig 4 illustrates the 1,200 acres2 and the proximity of the Bluffton Oyster Company, which is impacted by the closure of commercial beds If the fecal loading problem is not reduced, the next closure will be from 19-24 to 19-16, which is right next to the Company Not only would this impact the commercial operation, but recreational harvesting would also be negatively affected and in turn is reflected in a reduced quality of life, potentially resulting in reduced property values

Growth & Land Use Changes in the Watershed

Figure 5 Population change in Bluffton and the surrounding area

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 20000

own of Bluffton and the

surrounding area located within the Ma

River watershed have seen dramatic grow

over the past 25 years (Fig 5) In 1980, the

US Census reported that the population of

the Town of Bluffton was 598, and the

surrounding planning area, which includ

all of the Southern Beaufort area except

Hilton Head Island, was reported to be

3,652 Since the 2000 Census, Bluffton

continued to grow, and the special censu

requested in 2005 indicated 4,885 residents

in the Town The annexation of Buck Island/

Simmonsville Roads increased that number

to 6,377 residents within the Bluffton

Population density estimates are available for the Town of Bluffton and other areas within the Southern

ons, and

8

c information for the population of the Town of Bluffton was documented in the 2000 census

e gender distribution within the Town of Bluffton is approximately 48% male and 52% female,

was

t, ocial Marketing Plan,

er In

e watershed is expected to continue to increase over the next few

’s

s ough een substantial

Beaufort County planning area The density of the Town of Bluffton in 1990, when it still encompassed

approximately one square mile, was approximately 1.15 persons per acre Following the recent annexati

an increase to roughly 53 square miles, the Town’s density decreased to 0.19 persons per acre Based on

projected population associated with a Town of Bluffton build-out scenario for its current corporate limits

(assuming a population of 47,310 by 2025), the estimated population density within the Town may be 1.3

persons per acre

Demographi

and for the special census taken in 2005 The figures do not include the population changes associated with the later annexation of the Simmonsville/Buck Island tracts The average age of the population of Bluffton switched between 2000 and 2005 from nearly 36 years old to less than 31 years The predominant age range in 2005 became 25 to 34 years old (21% of Bluffton’s estimated population) Increases were also seen in the Town’s population of children under 5 years old (a 430% change between 2000 and 2005) and ages 5 to 9 (a 363% change) These factors show that the Town has a considerable amount of young families with school age

children

Th

according to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan Racial composition and ethnicity data from the 2005 census

predominantly white (69%) The African-American population showed a decrease from the 2000 census (32%)

to the 2006 estimates (23%) A significant increase was observed between 2000 and 2005 in the population of Hispanic or Latino residents This population increased 627% between 2000 and 2005 to approximately 11.3%

of the population, not including the Simmonsville/Buck Island areas The largest increase was seen in the

percent of the population identified as Two or More Races (1.2% of the total 2006 estimated population) The Asian population also rose by the 2006 estimate to approximately 1.1% of the total Town population At presenapproximately 90% of the population of the Town of Bluffton speaks English at some level

Population demographics are important factors to consider in the development of a S

particularly in areas of large Asian, Hispanic and Latino populations Cultural differences among population groups influence the expected and accepted uses of waterbodies and their associated natural resources

Understanding the needs and expectations of coastal resources for these groups will be important to considaddition, language barriers between population groups must be recognized in the development and discussion of various coastal management initiatives

This population growth within th

decades While population projections have not been prepared specifically for the watershed area, the TownComprehensive Plan indicates that 22,191 dwelling units are permitted for construction in planned developmentBased on the average household size per dwelling unit, the estimated population of the Town of Bluffton is expected to be between 60,800 and 63,000 at build-out The unincorporated area within the watershed is comprised of relatively stable existing residential communities The anticipated growth within this area, althcurrently not estimated, is believed to be marginal

With the increased population, there have b

Image 1 Typical land use along the May River

ch to the land use within the watershed The Town of Bluffton

originally developed as a summer getaway for local wealthy landowners

Because of this purpose, the original settlement was focused along the

May River to maximize access and benefits from the water Land

development patterns did not take a structured form, resulting in a

series of differing land use patterns occurring throughout the waters

The recent expansion of the Town also resulted in development

agreements and planned unit developments which enable more f

land use design and management than used in traditional zoning

As the region grows, land use controls may be forced to evolve

in order to achieve the goals and objectives established in the Town’s

Comprehensive Plan and for the best interest of the May River

Recognition of the difference between traditional land use contro

associated with zoning and those established as part of a completed

development agreement is important to consider when discussing lan

use in the May River watershed

Land use within the watershed is governed by the Town and County in their respective jurisdictions In

nit Development (PUD)

River

in the watershed differ somewhat Equestrian

nity with regard to future land

being

h and new development

ources of Fecal Coliform

the watershed within Bluffton, the majority of land uses are residential, with some small-scale commercial uses, and a few instances of light industry Light industry in the watershed includes the junkyard on May River Road, the Bluffton Oyster Factory on Wharf Street, and the Resort Services Incorporated (RSI), which operates an industrial laundry No heavy industrial activity occurs within the watershed

Approximately 90% of the land within the Town is zoned for Planned U

Developed areas and housing developments that exist within the watershed include Palmetto Pointe, May

Plantation, Rose Dhu Creek Plantation, Gascoigne Bluff, Barton’s Run, Hampton Hall, The Farm, Pine Ridge, PineCrest, Wellstone, and Bluffton Park Other developed areas are referred to as the Brighton Beach area and the AllJoy area Housing developments known as Heritage at New Riverside, Alston Park, The Haven, Midpoint,

Southern Oaks and Headwaters are located on Palmetto Bluff

Even within similarly zoned areas, the uses of land with

activities are found at Rose Dhu Creek Plantation, Gascoigne Bluff, and some areas of Palmetto Bluff A use commercial and residential development is under construction along Calhoun Street Greater commercial activity occurs along Burnt Church Road and on Ulmer Road near All Joy Road

mixed-The Town’s Comprehensive Plan establishes a desired plan for the commu

use and development Within the unincorporated areas of the watershed, large portions are currently

undeveloped or used as open space The Town’s Comprehensive Plan identifies these areas as possibly

incorporated into the Town in the future, and rezoned for low-density residential use

Changes in the intensity and types of land use associated with population growt

within the watershed during the past decade have resulted in changes in water quality

S

use from timberland to planned unit development-residential is most concentrated

pet

waste-s tment

te

hich

d

The conversion of land

within the Stoney and Rose Dhu Creeks headwaters sub-drainage basins, with the exception of Bluffton Park in the Guerrard Cove sub-basin With increasing residential development in the headwaters, potential new sources

of fecal were added to existing sources, thus possibly increasing the amount of fecal loading or changing the mechanism of fecal coliform delivery to the May River Potential fecal coliform sources include:

1) Stormwater Ponds Ponds are a potential source of fecal coliforms as they receive the

contaminated runoff from residential areas and serve as wildlife habitat for alligators and wading bird

As a result of more than 18 months of weekly fecal coliform “hot spot” testing conducted by the

University of South Carolina-Beaufort (USCB), the results indicate that ponds are an effective trea

for fecal coliforms, not a source as initially thought However, much discussion has ensued about the effects of stormwater volume and the nature of the discharges, i.e the episodic release of stormwaterfrom the ponds into the adjacent wetlands where fecal coliform numbers are higher

Horses In addition to existing communities with horses, several residential communi

having horses either stabled or on private lots have been created To date, the Town and County have identified the location and number of horses in the May River Watershed This information coupled with the USCB results from the weekly fecal coliform testing indicates that commercial and hobbyist farms arenot largely contributing to the identified fecal coliform hot spots

Pets With residential development, there has been an increase in

area, and pet waste is not being properly disposed While the number of pets has increased in the area,most are within neighborhoods whose stormwater is treated with ponds Again, the USCB weekly fecal coliform results indicate that ponds are effectively reducing fecal coliform numbers Thus, while pet wasmay have increased in the watershed, the net result on the May River appears to be insignificant

Wildlife With increasing development, native wildlife has been pushed into the wetlands and buff

areas for habitat and refuge There is an assumed increase in animal concentrations and their fecal matter for deer, hogs, raccoons, and other urban wildlife species including alligators in these areas wdrain to or are adjacent to the May River This theory is supported by the USCB weekly fecal coliform testing While fecal numbers are low at pond outfalls, they dramatically increase in downstream wetlansamples

5) Humans Failing or poorly maintained septic tanks, possible sanitary sewer failures, recreational vehicle

(RV) waste disposal in the Stoney Creek sub-basin, and old septic tanks in the Rose Dhu and Guerrard Cove sub-basins are another source of fecal contamination

6) Soil/Land Disturbance With construction land disturbance, inert fecal in the soil can become

reactivated and enter the May River via sediment Additionally, as it rains, stormwater runoff erodes ditch banks and can expose buried fecal coliforms

Based on fecal coliform loading calculations for horses, pets, wildlife and humans above, the change in land use has brought the amount of fecal loading into the headwaters of the May River to approximately

1,200,000 lbs/year While these four sources were considered to be the major fecal coliform sources in the watershed, the results of the USCB testing indicate that neither horses nor stormwater ponds are sources of fecal coliform In fact ponds appear to be an effective treatment for fecal coliforms, thus negating the impact of pets and ponds as significant fecal sources Therefore, focus will be placed on the relationships between development standards (e.g stormwater pond design, wildlife corridors, buffers, and land disturbance requirements),

stormwater pond discharges and wildlife in wetlands Human impacts via failing septic systems will also be a major focus Pet waste will still be addressed via the social marketing campaign for its potential effects in areas not treated by stormwater ponds

The Town is proposing to address these sources of fecal and other potential contaminants in a phased approach via the comprehensive May River Watershed Action Plan Phase I, supported in part by the Section 319 grant, will implement structural and non-structural BMPs which the Town estimates will reduce fecal coliform

loading by 300,000 lbs/year (a 25% reduction) by one year after the close of the project These loading and

reduction rate calculations are located in Appendix B Future phases of the project may include land/conservation easement purchases and connection to public sewer

The work plans below contain a summary of all sources of pollution found within the watershed, the necessary load reductions to correct a fecal exceedance, the BMPs needed to achieve the load reductions,

identification of sources of technical and financial assistance and the target audiences for social marketing

including the necessary messages

The work plans are applicable to the entire watershed However due to the rising fecal numbers at DHEC shellfish station 19-19, it is a priority to implement measures first in the headwaters, e.g Stoney and Rose Dhu Creeks sub-drainage basins, and then in Guerrard Cove sub-drainage basin to address stations 19-24 and 19-16

As resources are available at the end of the project, they may be implemented in the other sub-drainage basins Social marketing and other non-structural BMPs will be presented throughout the entire watershed

Work Plans to Address Sources of Fecal Coliform

Source 1: Stormwater Ponds

The Issue: There has been a change in land use from timberland and natural ecosystems to PUDs With the

increasing development, there has been a required increase in the number of stormwater ponds to treat runoff These ponds are designed to receive fecal pollutants from development, but they have also become wildlife habitat for alligators, wading birds and urban wildlife As such, they are now potential sources of fecal

contamination However, the data from USCB corroborates that ponds are sufficiently treating fecal coliforms Yet, discharges from pond outfalls can be a confounding factor in the deliverance of fecal coliforms to the May River both in discharge volume and discharge timing, e.g the episodic nature of the discharges not mimicking pre-development run off conditions

Management Needed:

• Retrofit pond outfalls to mimic more natural conditions in the Pilot Project

• Create a regional pond to treat fecal coliform hot spots identified by USCB testing via the Pilot Project

• Pond littoral shelf maintenance/enhancement standards, ditch vegetation, and aeration BMPs should be inspected and improved as needed according to the Town’s and Beaufort County’s Stormwater Ordinances

• Adopt standards in the Town’s and County’s stormwater ordinances which require post-development

stormwater conditions to mimic pre-development conditions

• Educate developers, POA/HOAs and staff on the benefits of the increased standards via a social marketing campaign

Social Marketing Needed:

• Target Audience:

a Developers: typically Caucasian males from >25yrs and higher

b Property Owner Associations (POAs): males and females of each community, mixed financial, age and racial representation

c Staff of the Town and County: males and females of varying ages

• Message:

a Vegetated littoral shelves are not ugly; they are good for water quality and should be maintained or enhanced

b Adding aeration to a pond is not only aesthetically pleasing, it benefits water quality

c By retrofitting ponds to mimic natural conditions for outfalls, water quality in the May River will improve

Objectives:

• Modify standards in the Town’s and County’s Stormwater Ordinances so that post-development stormwater runoff conditions mimic pre-development stormwater runoff conditions

• Modify the Unified Development Ordinance based on watershed principles including stormwater (Illicit

Discharge Detection, volume, turbidity, aeration, etc.), land use and land clearing standards

Potential Strategies:

• Targeted workshops for developers and Town/County staff with continuing education credits

• Work with property management companies to deliver message and then identify what PUDs they manage to make connections with them

• Attend Property Owner and Homeowner Association meetings (POAs & HOAs) to talk with homeowners about stormwater pond issues

Evaluation:

• Pre- and post-surveys of workshops

• Determine if BMP maintenance requirements in the ordinances are being met and maintained

• Pre- and post-surveys after POA and HOA presentations

• Install a pilot project in both green field and brown field situations to mitigate for the impact that pond discharges have on transporting fecal coliform to the May River

Source 2: Horse Manure

The Issue: There are three commercial and three regional hobbyist horse farms in the Stoney Creek and Rose

Dhu Creek sub-drainage basins which may contribute to the fecal numbers at DHEC station 19-19 (Fig 1 #1, 2,

5, 7, 9, 10) While the Town estimated that 700,000lbs/year of horse manure is produced annually, current weekly fecal coliform testing indicates that horses are not a top contributor to high fecal numbers at “hot spots” which contribute to station 19-19, so this is not a priority for implementation Thus, these funds are requested to

be re-programmed to a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) Pilot Program to reduce feral cat populations

Source 3: Pet Waste

The Issue: As discussed previously there has been extensive population growth in the greater Bluffton area

Utilizing equations provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are approximately 3,200 dogs in the priority sub-drainage basins (Stoney Creek and Rose Dhu) which impact fecal levels at station 19-19 (Fig 1 #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) The Town estimates 290,000 lbs of pet waste is produced annually, thus needing to be reduced by ~35% (100,000 lbs/year) Stormwater ponds within the developments appear to be adequately treating fecal coliforms as a result of pet waste Thus, this is not a major priority for the plan

Management Needed:

• Installation of 10 pet waste stations within the watershed targeting specific areas (Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton Park, and Old Town) to reduce the amount of dog waste left on the ground where runoff can

transport it to stormwater lagoons Support from Palmetto Pride grant will cover these expenses

• Installation of 6 trash cans for pet waste and litter reduction in Old Town Support from Palmetto Pride grant will cover these expenses

• Disconnect downspouts in approximately 145 homes to prevent runoff from pet-owner’s lots from reaching receiving stormwater lagoons Disconnecting downspouts can be achieved by directing the flow into a rain barrel or series of rain barrels or to pervious areas Preventing sheet flow across the lawn will stop the runoff from transporting fecal coliform to stormwater lagoons and ultimately to the May River

• Install 40 Doggy Dooley pet septic systems to provide a safe, yet convenient, means for pet owners to pick

up and properly dispose of their pets’ waste

• By contracting with Dr Bill Leonard, Clemson Extension Master Gardener, a series of 45 rain gardens

designed for varying conditions, but all for the same purpose, fecal load reduction, will be installed in the watershed with a focus on the Old Town Historic District as a demonstration project By capturing runoff in a rain garden, there is pollutant load reduction by the plants

• Update the Town’s Municipal Animal Ordinance to allow trap-neuter-release as a mechanism for feral cat population reduction and add a requirement for the proper disposal of pet waste punishable as a

misdemeanor offense

• Educate pet owners on the environmental harms their pets’ waste can cause and how to properly dispose of the waste via a social marketing campaign

Social Marketing Needed:

• Target Audience: All sectors of the greater Bluffton population representing all income, age, education and ethnicity segments, with an implementation priority of a social marketing campaign targeted to the

headwaters sub-drainage basins

• Message:

a Pet waste can be harmful to human health, especially children

b Pet waste is harmful to water quality and thus our quality of life

c Properly dispose of pet waste with pet septic systems or by using pet waste stations

d Decrease the chances of waste leaving your yard and polluting local waterways by installing rain barrels and rain gardens to reduce stormwater runoff from your property

Objectives:

• 10 pet waste stations will be installed in the designated areas

• 6 trash cans will be installed in the designated areas

• 145 homes will install a rain barrel(s) and/or disconnect downspouts

• 40 pet owners will install a pet septic system

• 45 rain gardens will be installed and maintained

• Create and implement an updated Animal Ordinance in the Municipal Code

• Use DHEC “Scoop the Poop” campaign materials

• Homeowners that receive cost-sharing benefits commit to proper pet waste disposal

• Work with PUD special interest groups to spread the message (birding, garden, and nature clubs)

• Work to identify leaders within the local Hispanic community and establish partnerships with those leaders Some potential partners include Luis Bell, past leader of the Latin-American Council, Eric Esquivel, publisher

of La Isla Magazine, and local church leaders for churches with Hispanic congregations If necessary, other potential partners may be identified by seeking assistance from the Arnold School of Public Health Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies through Dr Porter

Evaluation:

• Track number of pet waste stations installed against objectives, estimate waste removed and inspect use

• Track number of rain barrels and disconnected downspouts installed against objectives

• Track number of pet septic systems installed against numbers and inspect use

• Track number of rain gardens installed against objectives

• Determine if an updated Animal Ordinance has been developed

• Pre- and post-surveys after POA and HOA presentations

• Fecal loading from this source will decrease by 45% (90,000 lbs.) within one year after the close of the project

Source 4: Wildlife

The Issue: As land use change has occurred with an increasing population, native wildlife have less habitat

available and are often pushed into wetlands and buffer areas to survive Many buffers are located along the waterways to protect water quality from development, yet now there is a large source of fecal contamination Additionally, the introduction of non-native species is negatively impacting our ecosystems, specifically for water

quality this is true with feral hogs The Town estimates that 200,000 lbs/year of wildlife fecal matter is produced annually and needs to be reduced by 10% (20,000 lbs/year) This is a problem throughout the watershed (Fig 1

#1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15) Weekly testing from USCB indicates that wildlife may be a major

contributor of fecal coliforms However, due to the negative public perception of wildlife management, all other structural and non-structural BMP measures (e.g Pilot Project & Unified Code Overhaul) will be exhausted prior to culling herds of deer or other urban wildlife

• Based upon the weekly hot spot testing by USCB, install Greenfield and Brownfield BMPs via the Pilot Project

to reduce fecal coliforms at station 19-19 or in waters leading to station 19-19

• Educate all residents in the greater Bluffton area to not feed wildlife, but to provide additional habitat by putting their land under conservation easement or creating habitat in their yard via a social marketing

campaign

Social Marketing Needed:

• Target Audience: All sectors of the greater Bluffton population representing all income, age, education and ethnicity segments, with an implementation priority of a social marketing campaign targeted to the

headwaters sub-drainage basins

• Message:

a Feeding wildlife can be harmful to you, your pet and the wildlife

b Create wildlife habitat in your back yard by planting beneficial native plants

c Introduced, non-native species, like hogs, are detrimental to the environment

Objectives:

• 50% of the 100 docks identified will install bird roosting deterrent devices

• Unified Ordinance will be modified based on watershed principles

• Pilot Project will be installed

• Wildlife management plan will be developed for deer

Evaluation:

• Track number of docks retrofitted with bird roosting deterrent devices

• Track % of fecal coliform reduction post-installation of the Pilot Project

• Unified Ordinance will be updated based in watershed principles

• Track number of deer culled, if necessary, during and within one year after the project period

• Fecal loading from this source will decrease by 10% (20,000 lbs.) within one year after the close of the project

Source 5: Humans

The Issue: In newer developments, residents have turf that they over water and over fertilize, which contributes

additional fecal pollutant runoff if they are also pet owners In other areas, due to development, sewer

connections are available, but the connection has not occurred and this may be addressed in future phases of the project

With aging septic tanks in the region, there are some systems that require maintenance or replacement There is

a 10% failure rate assumed for septic tanks at any given time There are approximately 500 septic tanks along

the May River and coves, thus it is assumed that 50 tanks are failing However, following infrared flyovers in the winter of 2008, the Town determined that failing septic systems were not a major issue within the headwaters of the May River watershed, and thus has reduced the number to 22 failing systems throughout the watershed There is one Recreational Vehicle (RV) Park/campground that is served by septic and is located in the Stoney Creek sub-drainage basin The Town estimates that 5,400 lbs/year of human fecal material is reaching the May River and needs to be reduced by at least 90% (4,900lbs/yr) This is an issue throughout the watershed (Fig 1

#1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 14, 15)

Management Needed:

• Septic tank pump-out and inspection of an estimated 22 tanks and a replacement of 1-2 tanks (10% of the

22 identified) within the Town’s and County’s jurisdiction

• Develop and/or review the waste management plan for Stoney Crest Campground/RV Park

• Create a Septic System Maintenance Ordinance for the Town and Beaufort County

• Disconnect downspouts in 145 homes to prevent runoff from turf reaching receiving stormwater lagoons Disconnecting downspouts can be achieved by directing the flow into a rain barrel or series of rain barrels or

to a pervious area, thus preventing sheet flow across the lawn and stopping the transport of fecals to

stormwater lagoons

• Increase and/or enhance the vegetated buffer in 47 lots in May River Plantation and Gascoigne Bluff that have river/creek frontage By partnering with Sea Grant and utilizing their Coast-a-Syst program, river buffers can be enhanced with additional vegetation or increased in depth to elevate fecal coliform removal

efficiencies

• By contracting with Dr Bill Leonard, Clemson Extension Master Gardener, 45 rain gardens designed for varying conditions, but all for the same purpose, fecal load reduction, will be installed on individual parcels

By capturing runoff in a rain garden, there is increased fecal load reduction

• Partner with the EPA WaterSense program While this program is primarily focused on water conservation, the Town believes the principals of conservation will also result in reduced runoff from residential lawns and other areas where pet waste may be found Thus, by conserving water and reducing runoff in these areas, there will be reduced transport of fecal material from lawns

• Educate homeowners about the benefits of maintaining their septic tanks, the benefits of connecting to public sewer where available and the importance of reducing runoff from their land

Social Marketing Needed:

• Target Audience:

a Septic Tank Maintenance/Repairs: varies from neighborhood to neighborhood; along the river - typically affluent, 50+yrs, Caucasians; along the coves and areas of Old Town - middle to lower income bracket, 35+yrs, African American, Hispanic and Caucasian

b Connection to Sewer in Old Town: primarily individuals of low income bracket, >45yrs, African American

c RV/Campground Waste Management: middle to lower income bracket, across age classes, mostly

a How to recognize a failing system

b Maintaining your septic tank is more cost-effective in the long term than not maintaining it

c Connecting to sewer where practical is beneficial to water quality and sometimes your health if your system is failing

d Disconnecting downspouts by installing rain barrels and rain gardens is good for water quality

e Installing rain barrels and rain gardens are cost-saving measures by reducing irrigation needs

f Rain barrels, river buffers and rain gardens help conserve our water resources

g Conserving water and preserving water quality is important for healthy future generations

Objectives:

• Recruit 75% of the estimated 22 homeowners within the watershed to pump out their system

• Of the 47 lots identified for buffer enhancement, 65% will participate in the Coast-a-Syst program

• Recruit 90% of identified failing systems to replace them

• 90% of participating homeowners will understand the importance of maintaining and how to maintain their system

• Create/update a waste management plan for Stoney Crest Campground

• Create and implement a Septic Tank Maintenance Ordinance for the Town and County

• 145 homes will install a rain barrel(s)

• 45 rain gardens are installed and maintained

• Establish partnership with EPA’s WaterSense program and employ their outreach materials making the connection between water conservation and improved water quality

Potential Strategies:

• Public workshop on recognition of a failing septic and how to maintain one properly

• Hold targeted workshops to present the Coast-a-Syst program

• Public workshop on turf management and water conservation

• Work with property management companies to deliver message and then identify what PUDs they manage to make connections with them

• Attend Property Owner and Homeowner Association meetings (POAs & HOAs) to talk with homeowners about turf issues

• Work to identify leaders within the local Hispanic community and establish partnerships with those leaders Some potential partners include Luis Bell, past leader of the Latin-American Council, Eric Esquivel, publisher

of La Isla Magazine, and local church leaders for churches with Hispanic congregations If necessary, other potential partners may be identified by seeking assistance from the Arnold School of Public Health Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies through Dr Porter

Evaluation:

• Pre- and post-surveys of workshops

• Track the number of enhancement buffers

• Pre- and post-surveys after Coast-a-Syst workshop

• Rate of participant recruitment evaluated against objectives

• Determine if a waste management plan has been developed/updated for Stoney Crest RV/Campground

• Pre- and post-surveys after POA and HOA presentations

• Track number of rain barrels and disconnected downspouts

• Track number of rain gardens installed

• Fecal loading from this source will decrease by 90% (3,150 lbs.) within one year after the close of the

project

Source 6: Soil/Land Disturbance

The Issue: As development occurs, land disturbance is inevitable This disturbance can re-activate fecal

coliforms in the soil that can then be transported to stormwater lagoons via sediment runoff This can happen not only during development, but in ditches that erode as they receive rainfall Thus, it is necessary to limit the amount of land disturbance in preparation for development and to enhance ditches/banks to prevent soil erosion This is a source of fecal throughout the entire watershed and is dealt with via the Town’s Capital Improvement Projects program

Management Needed:

• Pond littoral shelf maintenance/enhancement standards, ditch vegetation, and aeration BMPs should be inspected and improved as needed according to the Town’s and Beaufort County’s Stormwater Ordinances

• Identify ditches in need of enhancement (10/project period)

• Conduct construction site inspections to ensure proper sediment and erosion control measures are in place

• Development Standards Ordinance revision in Town of Bluffton/Beaufort County to limit allowable land disturbance areas and/or timeframes

Social Marketing Needed:

• Target Audience:

a Developers: typically Caucasian males from >25yrs and higher

b Staff of the Town and County: males and females of varying ages

• Message:

a Clearing more land than necessary harms the environment in water quality and loss of habitat for wildlife prematurely